New deals for Saints coaches West, King and Dickens

Tom Vickers

Saints have handed new deals to first-team coaches Dorian West, Alex King and Alan Dickens, keeping the trio at Franklin’s Gardens until at least the end of the 2016/17 season.

The news comes just a couple of months after director of rugby Jim Mallinder signed a new five-year contract at the club.

Stability has been the buzzword at Saints this year, with the retention of last season’s double-winning squad and management team top of the agenda.

Mallinder and forwards coach West, who both arrived in 2007, have been the backbone of building a team capable of challenging at the top end of the English game.

While Dickens, having served his time as an Academy coach, and backs mentor Alex King, who arrived from Clermont Auvergne last summer, have added plenty to the mix.

And chief executive Allan Robson has admitted his delight at keeping hold of ‘the most successful group of coaches in the country’.

“One of the underpinning hallmarks of our steady growth and development over the past few years has been a stability throughout the club, and this is reflected in the new contracts we have arranged with all three,” Robson said.

“I am confident that all Saints supporters are as excited as me by the prospect of watching the team continue to develop and prosper under their guidance.”

Mallinder feels he has now found the perfect formula for his coaching team, saying his three lieutenants deserve a huge amount of praise for Saints’ recent successes.

“Dorian, Alex and Alan have developed an excellent rapport with each other, and with the playing squad, too,” Mallinder said.

“They all put in a massive amount of hard work, often behind the scenes, and deserve plenty of credit for what we achieved last season.

“They bring different areas of expertise and different ideas to the group, and complement each other’s strengths. I’m delighted that they have all agreed to stay at the club.”